Ask Phoebe: Mum and Dad's bonds safe with new council

Last year, I bought some Manukau City Council bonds. I believe other councils have also issued bonds as revenue raisers for infrastructure provision. What happens to these bonds under the new Auckland Council? Edward Sullivan, Auckland.

There have been a series of bond issues from the Manukau City Council, the latest just last month. They were aimed at "mum and dad" investors as a way of having some financial input into the local community. They are secured over the rates and rates revenue of the council. It seems the Auckland Council plans to approach an international credit agency with a view to obtaining a long-term issuer credit rating, and the Auckland Council plans to list on the stock market as soon as possible after November 1.

Who will be overseeing water quality and providing my drinking water when the Auckland Council is in place? Kim Muir, Blockhouse Bay.

The Auckland Council will be responsible for monitoring water quality and looking after the waterways, such as streams.

Drinking-water and wastewater-treatment services will be provided by a council-controlled organisation (CCO). If, however, you live in Papakura, United Water will continue to deliver this service to the locals.

Since the extension to the Southwestern Motorway was opened, the queues of traffic on Wolverton St have increased markedly, especially during the evening rush hour. Are there any plans to improve traffic flows on Wolverton by making it two lanes each way? Several years ago, Auckland City issued a booklet outlining the Tiverton Rd/Wolverton St upgrade. The plans included replacing the roundabout at Blockhouse Bay Rd/Tiverton/Wolverton with traffic lights, and also installing traffic signals at the Wolverton/Taylor St intersection. Is any of this going ahead? Robert Moorfield, Blockhouse Bay.

The plans are all still there, including widening Wolverton St from a two-lane arterial to a four-lane arterial, widening the intersection at the roundabout you mention and installing traffic signals, and also installing traffic lights at the Wolverton/Taylor St and Tiverton/New Windsor Rd intersections. Unfortunately, all these projects have been put on hold until 2012.